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Speaker 1: Commander of Extella stood in the bridge of her ship,

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watching the stars through the main dying screen. The bridge

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was quite except for the soft hum of machines and

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the gentle beeping of computers. Her ship, the Sovereign's Will,

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was one of the largest vessels in the Zephyrin fleet.

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It was over two miles long and carried enough weapons

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to destroy a small moon. The Keplerm in his four

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hundred forty two system was peaceful today. Free planets circled

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the Yellow Star, and one of them was home to

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a new Ziffrin colony. The colonists had been there for

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only five years, but they were doing well. They had

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built cities, farms, and mining stations. Trade ships came and

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when every few days, carrying goods to other parts of

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the galaxy. That Stella had been patrolling this area for

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six months. It was not exciting work, but it was important.

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The Keplerman his four hundred forty two systems sat at

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the crossing of three major trade routes. Ships from dozens

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of different daily and races passed through here every day,

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most of them more friendly, but pirates sometimes tried to

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attack the merchant vessels. The commander was tall, even for

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a zephrin. Her skin was blue green and covered with

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small scales that caught the light from the bridge displays.

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How large as could see much better than human eyes,

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and her forearms made her very good operating the compass

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control panels on her ship. She had been in the

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Zephrian Navy for thirty years and had fought in many battles.

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Today felt different, though her senses had been picking up

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strange readings for the past ire. Something was coming toward

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their system through hyperspace. The computer said it would arrive soon.

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Commander called out her censor officer, a young Zephyn name Colter.

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We have a ship dropping out of hyperspace. It's about

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fifty thousand miles away from us. Exceller turned to look

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at the main display screen. A new dot appeared in

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the tactical map, showing the position of the unknown vessel.

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She frowned as she studied the readings. What kind of

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ship is it? She asked. Colter worked at his console

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for a moment, his forehands dancing across the control Its strange. Commander,

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the ship is much smaller than our frigates. The whole

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appears to be made of simple metal alloys. The design

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is very basic. It looks like it was built by

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a species that just learned how to travel between stars.

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Weapons Axtella wanted to know. I can detect some energy

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signatures that might be weapons, but they are very weak.

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This ship could not hurt even our smallest patrol boat.

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Fixola relaxed. A little new species discovered hyperspace travel every

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few years. Most of them were excited and curious about

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the galaxy, but they were also primitive and harmless. That

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Saferian Confederation had procedures for dealing with such contacts. Are

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they sending any messages, she asked? Dark Communications officer Riven

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looked up from her station. Yes, Commander, they are broadcasting

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on multiple frequencies. The message is in very simple galactic standard.

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I will put it on the main speakers. A voice

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filled the bridge. It sounded strange with all tones and pronunces.

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That was not quite right. Breedings, we are explorers from terror.

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We seek peaceful contact and trade opportunities. Please respond if

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you can understand this message. Several officers on the bridge

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made soft clicking sounds with them outs. This was Hazefrin's laughed.

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The alien sounded so polite and hopeful. It reminded Victalov

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children asking for permission to play in the garden. Terror,

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She said, thoughtfully, I have never heard of that world.

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Computer search the database for any reference to a planet coal, Terror,

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or species that calls itself Terran. The ship's computer made

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soft humming sounds as it searched for millions of records.

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After a few seconds, it responded in its calm, mechanical voice,

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no records found for Terror or Terrans in the galactic database.

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This was not unusual. There were thousands of walls in

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the galaxy, and new ones were discovered all the time.

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Many primitive species had never made contact with galactic civilization before.

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What does their ship look like, Extella asked. The main

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viewing screen changed to show the alien vessel. Fixtello stud

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at it carefully. The ship was indeeds more maybe three

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hundred feet long. Its hull was gray metal with some

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kind of numbers and symbols painted in the side. The

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design was very simple and blocky, without the smooth curves

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that advance Schibblers preferred. Parts of it looked like they

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had been welded together by hand. It looks like a

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cargo ship. Said tactical officer. As Queen, see those large

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sections in the middle, they are probably storage areas, and

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no small sections at the back are likely the engines.

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Very primitive, agreed another officer. Look at those exhaust ports.

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They are using chemical rocket for maneuvering. We stopped using

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those five hundred years ago. Dextella nodded. The Aliens were

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clearly new to space travel. The ship looked like something

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a student might build an engineering school. It was functional,

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but crude, Commander riven kolda, they are sending another message.

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Let me hear the strange voice came through the speakers again.

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This is Captain Sarah Chan of the Terran Colonial Service

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vessel Indomitable. We have detected your ships and webiano to

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speak with you. We bring greetings from the people of

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Terran and hope to learn about your civilization. Term Colonial

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Service Vexdella repeated. So they have some kind of government

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organization for space exploration. That shows there at least somewhat organized.

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She made her decision quickly. First contact with the new

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species was always interesting, and it would be good for

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her career if she handled it well. The Aliens seemed

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harmless and polite. There was no danger in talking to them.

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Revern open a channel to their ship. Channel open. Commander

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Extell stepped forward and spoke in HOMOSU official voice Terran

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Vessel Indomitable. This is command of Vextel off the Zephriyn

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Confederation ship sovereigns. Will we welcome you to the Kaplum

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in his four hundred forty two system. We are pleased

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to make contact with U species. There was a pause,

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then the alien voice responded, Command of vex Stella, This

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is Captain chan. We are grateful for your welcome. This

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is our first contact with any alien civilization and we

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are very excited to me meet you. First contact, whispered Calder.

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They really are primitive. Axtella continued speaking to the aliens.

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Captain Chane, we would be happy to tell you about

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galactic civilization and how your species might join the community

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of worlds. Would you be willing to meet with us

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in person? Another pause. We would be very honored to

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meet with you, Commander. Should we come to your ship

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that would be acceptable. We will send you docking instructions.

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As Reven transmitted the docking procedures, the excell A turn

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to her staff prepare the formal meeting chamber. Use the

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standard first contact protocols and make sure our translators are

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working properly. The galactic standard is not very good. What

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kind of reception should we prepare? Asteroid fell Anner w

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Exceeller thought for a moment, something impressive but not threatening.

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These aliens need to understand that we are advanced and powerful,

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but also friendly. Bring out the ceremonial God, but keep

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their weapons powered down, and prepare the standard protection treaty documents.

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The Protection treaty was something this is Eephfrin Confederation offered

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to all primitive species. It was a generous agreement that

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provided new species with abouts technology, protection from pirates and

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hostile aliens, and access to galactic trade routes. In exchange,

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the new species would provide raw materials, agricultural products, and

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workers for Zephyrine projects. Most primitive species were eager to

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sign such treaties. Who would not want protection and advanced technology.

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The Zephyrians had signed similar agreements with over forty different

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species in the past two centuries. It was a system

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that worked well for everyone. How long until the dark

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Extella asked about thirty minutes Commander Fixceelli used the time

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to study the files on first contact procedures. She had

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done this before, but each new species was different. Some

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were excited and curious, others were nervous and suspicious. Of

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few had been hostile, but those cases were rare. Most

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primitive species quickly realized the cooperation with advanced civilizations was

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in their best interests. The Terrans seemed to fall into

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the first category. The messages have been polite and the respectful.

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They had not made any demands or threats. They appeared

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to understand that they were the nucomers in the situation.

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When the alien ship reached the docking bay of Estella

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was ready, sheer changed into a formal ediform which was

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covered with metals and decorations that showed her rank and achievements.

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The meeting chamber had been prepared with comfortable chairs and

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a large table covered with star charts and treated documents.

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Commander and aunts fell on of the aliens of Dot

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Security reports that three of them are coming aboard there

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or wearing some kind of environmental suits and environmental suits.

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Estella was surprised. Our atmosphere should be safe for most

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optage in bred and species. They may be being cautious, Commander.

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Perhaps the species has special requirements this mid sense. Many

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alien species needed different amasaic mixtures or protection from certain

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types of radiation. Safrians always tried to make their guests comfortable.

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A few minutes later, at the doors to the meeting

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chamber opened, three figures in bucky white suits walked in,

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led by Vextella security chief. The suits covered their entire barders,

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and their faces were hidden behind reflective helmets. The aliens

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moved in an interesting way. They seemed to be studying

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everything around them, taking in details of the room and

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the equipment. Their heads turned frequently, as if they were

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recording or analyzing what they saw. One of them stepped

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forward and spoke. The voice was muffled by the helmet,

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but the translation system made it clear. Command of Extella.

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I am Captain Sera Chan, thank you for welcoming us

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a boarder ship. These are my officers which had in

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Commander Park and Signs Officer Rodriguez Extello stood and gave

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a formal bou Captain Chun, welcome to the sovereigns. Will

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please sit down. We have much to discuss. The humans

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took their seats carefully. Even through their suits, Faxtella could

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tell they were smaller than Zephyrian's. They seemed to be

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studying the room and its contents with great interest. Captain

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Chun Axtella began. He said, this is your first contact

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with alien civilization. How did your species develop hyperspace travel

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without meeting other races? Terror is located in a relatively

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empty region of space. Gavin Chun replied, we had no

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idea that so many other intelligent species existed until we

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developed off FoST typospace engines a few years ago. We

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have been exploring carefully looking for signs of other civilizations,

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and now you have found us. Paxtell said with satisfaction.

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This is a great day for both our species. Stace,

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the galaxy is a large and sometimes dangerous place, but

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it is also full of opportunities for those who know

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how to take advantage of them. She gestured to the

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star charts and the table. These maps show the major

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trade routes and the territories of the most important civilizations.

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As you can see, space is divided among many different confederations, hegumennes,

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and collectives. Each group controls hundreds or thousands of star systems.

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Captain Chun lean for were to study the maps, fascinating

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how many different species? For there over three hundred that

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we know of, Atchtella replied proudly. The Zephyrn Confederation alone

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includes forty seven different species. We provide protection and technology

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to our member worlds, and they contribute their unique scales

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and resources to our common prosperity. It sounds like a

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very organized system. Chun said, how does a new species

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like IROs fit into this structure? Fixed tellus mild, hurwing

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her sharp teeth. This was exactly the question she had

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been hoping for. That is an excellent question, Captain Chan.

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The galaxy can be a dangerous place for species that

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try to go it alone. There are pirates, hostile aliens,

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and many of the threats. But species that join establish

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confederations can enjoy protection and prospect She picked up one

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of the documents from the table. This is a standard

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protection treaty. It autlins how new species can become members

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of the Zephyran Confederation. We provide military protection, advanced technology,

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and access to galactic markets. In return, member species contribute

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resources and labor to our common projects. Captain Shane took

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the document and appear to study it through her helmet.

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This is very generous of you. What kinds of resources

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and laborer would terribly expected to provide? Nothing too difficult

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extel as she would her perhaps mining operations, agricultural products,

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while workers for construction projects. Every species contributes what they

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do best. It is a fair system that has worked

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well for centuries. The human was quiet for a long moment,

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apparently reading through the treat Finally, she looked up, Commander,

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this is a lot of information to process. Would it

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be possible for us to take some time to study

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this proposal and consult with our government on terror? Paxcella

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was pleased to the humans were being sensible. Many primitive

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species tried to make hasty decisions in these situations, but

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the mark Ones took time to consider their options. Of course,

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Captain Chun, take all the time you need. These are

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important decisions should not be rushed. As the meeting continued,

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Viccella found herself luck in these humans. More and more.

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They asked intelligent questions about galactic civilization, trade procedures, and

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defense arrangements. They seemed genuinely interested in learning and participating

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in the wider community of world. When the meeting ended,

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Captain Chanthan Fixella for her time and hospitality. The three

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humans returned to their ship, taking copies of the treaty

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documents within Dot. As she watched the small vessel move

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away from her ship, Vextella felt satisfied with the day's work.

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The humans seemed like exactly the kind of species that

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would benefit from Zephyrn protection. They were intelligent but primitive,

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organized but not threatening. In a few days, they would

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probably return with sign treatis eager to join galactic civilization. Dot.

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She had no idea how wrong she was. Captain Sir

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Chansat in the small meeting room aboard the Terran ship Indomitable.

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The room was crammed compared to the spacious chambers on

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the Zephyrn vessel, but it served as purpose around the

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table set of foremost trusted officers, Lieutenant Commander Park, Science

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Officer Rodriguez and intelligent specialist Hayes. Dutcha never removed her

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environmental suit after returning from the alien ship. She was

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a woman in her early forties with short black hair

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and sharp brown eyes that missed nothing. How uniform was

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simple and practical, very different from the elaborate decorations worn

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by the zephyrn Commander, well, what do you think as

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you and asked her team Lieutenant Commander Park spoke first.

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He was a tall man with sturdy hands and a calmvoice.

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There exactly what the advanced reports said. They would be arrogant, condescending,

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and completely convinced of their own superiority. The protection treaty

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is interesting, added Rodriguez, a woman with graying hair and

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thick glasses. It is basically a slavery contract dressed up

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in fancy language. They provide some technology and protection while

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the member species gives them everything valuable. They own. Hayes,

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the youngest number of the team. Look, Andrew, did you

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see how they talked to us like we were children

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who needed adults to take care of us. They think

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we are completely helpless. John nodded slowly. That is exactly

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what we want them to think. The longer they believe

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we are primitive and harmless, the more information we can gather.

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She turned to Rodriguez. What did you learn from the

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ship's systems while we were there? Rodrigue smiled and pulled

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out a small device. Quite a lot. Actually, their security

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is terrible. They never imagined that primitive aliens might have

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advanced scanning equipment hidden in their environmental suits. I was

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able to map most of their computer networks and download

268
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significant amounts of data. Excellent. What kind of data, fleet positions,

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patrol schedules, defensive arrangements for the system, and a lot

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of information about their ongoing conflicts with the other aliens.

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It seems the Zafrians of fighting wars on multiple front

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Chuan lean forward with interest. Tell me more about these conflicts,

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Rodriguez consulted her notes. They are currently engaged in territorial

274
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disputes with two other major powers. The Hegemony of Care

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controls the systems to the north, and the Crystalline Collective

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dominates the eastern regions. All three groups have been fighting

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over border systems for over two hundred years. Two hundred

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years part looks surprise. That is a very long time

279
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for a war. It is not really at war, Rodriguez explained,

280
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more like a series of small battles in diplomatic incidents.

281
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None of the three powers is strong enough to defeat

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the others completely, so they just keep fighting over the

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same few systems again and again. Hayes added, the casualty

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numbers are incredible. Millions of beings have died in these conflicts,

285
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and none of the size has gained more than a

286
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few star systems. It is a complete waste of resources.

287
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Can process this information carefully. The intelligence reports from TERROR

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had suggested that the local Ilien powers were not very efficient,

289
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but this was worse than expected. Any military force that

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could fight for two centuries without achieving decisive victory was

291
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probably not very good at warfare. What about their technology,

292
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she asked, mixed results. Rodriguez replied, some of their systems

293
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of quiet advance, specially to haberspace engines and end energy weapons,

294
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but their tactics and strategic thinking appear to be very ordated.

295
00:15:03,399 --> 00:15:05,600
They built huge, slow ships designed for long battles of

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addression attritionan warfare. Chen mused, that explains the two hundred

297
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year conflicts. They just keep throwing ships at each other

298
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until one side gets tired and gives up exactly, and

299
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their defensive strategies are completely predictable. They group their fleets

300
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around major worlds and wait for enemies to attack. Very

301
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passive and reactive. Chen stood up and walked to the

302
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small window that looked out into space. In the distance,

303
00:15:24,879 --> 00:15:27,559
she could see the lights of the Zephyrian fleet, five

304
00:15:27,679 --> 00:15:30,480
large ships and a dozen smaller vessels, all positioned in

305
00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:33,679
a standard defensive formation. They have no idea what modern

306
00:15:33,679 --> 00:15:36,799
warfare looks like, she said quietly. They are still fighting

307
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the same way their ancestors did centuries ago. How cleared

308
00:15:40,080 --> 00:15:44,120
his throat. Captain, what are your orders? Should we proceed

309
00:15:44,159 --> 00:15:46,759
with the original mission plan? She in turned back to

310
00:15:46,799 --> 00:15:51,600
her offices. Not yet. We need more information first. The

311
00:15:51,679 --> 00:15:55,120
Zephyrins are clearly planning to offer us the protection treedy,

312
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and I want to see exactly how they present it.

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The more we understand about their diplomatic methods, the better

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00:16:00,519 --> 00:16:02,600
we can predict how they will react to other species.

315
00:16:03,240 --> 00:16:06,000
She sat back down at the table. Besides, playing the

316
00:16:06,080 --> 00:16:08,120
role of grateful primitives for a few more days will

317
00:16:08,120 --> 00:16:10,840
not hurt us. It gives our other ships more time

318
00:16:10,840 --> 00:16:14,679
to get into position. Has looked confused. Other ship's captain

319
00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:19,159
Chun smiled, Did you really think Terror would send just

320
00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:21,080
one ship to make first contact with an a non

321
00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:25,200
ail empower? Indomitable is just the advanced scout. The rest

322
00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:27,799
of Task Force Omega's currently moving into position throughout this

323
00:16:27,879 --> 00:16:31,600
system how many ships are we talking about? Park wanted

324
00:16:31,639 --> 00:16:35,200
to know enough. Chun replied simply, but they are all

325
00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:39,639
using stealth systems and holographic camouflage. To the Zephyrins, they

326
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will look like calm as merchant vessels under such ships.

327
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By the time we reveal our true capabilities, it will

328
00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:48,039
be too late for them to respond effectively. Roderigue is

329
00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:53,840
nodded approvingly. A classic misdirection strategy. Make the enemy underestimate

330
00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:57,440
your forces while you gather intelligence and achieve tactical superiority.

331
00:16:58,200 --> 00:17:01,440
Exactly Sephin's think they are dealing with a single primitive

332
00:17:01,440 --> 00:17:04,480
ship crewed by curious explorers. They have no idea that

333
00:17:04,559 --> 00:17:07,759
they are facing a full colonial marine task force equipped

334
00:17:07,759 --> 00:17:10,559
with the most advanced weapons Terror has ever built. The

335
00:17:10,599 --> 00:17:13,319
next morning, John received a message from command of Vextella

336
00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:15,680
inviting her to return to the Seferian flagship for more

337
00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:20,079
detailed discussions. Chuhn accepted immediately, bringing the same team of

338
00:17:20,079 --> 00:17:22,440
officers with her. The meeting chamber and the sovereigns will

339
00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:25,599
have been prepared even more elaborately than before. The table

340
00:17:25,640 --> 00:17:29,480
was covered with starcharts, technical manuals, and several coppies other

341
00:17:29,519 --> 00:17:32,039
protection treaty. Around the room stood six Suferian gods and

342
00:17:32,079 --> 00:17:35,079
ceremonial armor, their weapons clearly visible but not threatening. Command

343
00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:37,519
of Vextella greeted them warmly. Captain Chan will come back.

344
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I hope you are time to study the materials we

345
00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:41,880
provided yesterday. We did Command of my officers, and I

346
00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:44,160
spent many arrows for reviewing the protection treaty and the

347
00:17:44,200 --> 00:17:47,720
information about galactic civilization. It is all very impressive. Vectholo

348
00:17:47,839 --> 00:17:50,119
gesture for them to sit down. I am glad you

349
00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:52,640
find it interesting to day. I would like to discuss

350
00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:54,839
the practical details of how terror might join this Ephyr

351
00:17:54,880 --> 00:17:58,920
in confederation. Juhn nodded politely. We are very interested in

352
00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:02,680
learning more. The zephyr and commander activated a holographic display

353
00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:05,680
that showed a three dimensional map of the galaxy, hundreds

354
00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:08,920
of star systems closed in different colors, representing the territories

355
00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:12,359
of various alien powers. As you can see, Vextella began,

356
00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:15,680
the galaxy is divided among many different groups. The blue

357
00:18:15,680 --> 00:18:19,039
systems belong to the Seffering Confederation. We control over six

358
00:18:19,119 --> 00:18:21,839
hundred star systems and protect forty seven different species. She

359
00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:25,240
pointed to other regions of the map. The red systems

360
00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:27,359
are controlled by the hegemony of CAP and a green

361
00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:30,519
once belong to the Crystalline Collective. These are our main

362
00:18:30,599 --> 00:18:33,359
rivals in this part of the galaxy. June studied the

363
00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:36,880
map carefully. It looks like you are surrounded by potential enemies.

364
00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:39,519
That is why the protection treaty is so important. Ex

365
00:18:39,519 --> 00:18:43,079
Still explained. No single species can survive alone in such

366
00:18:43,079 --> 00:18:46,640
a dangerous environment, but together we are strong enough to

367
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defend ourselves in prosper She touched it control and the

368
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map zumed and to show the local region around the

369
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keplomin his four hundred forty two system Terror would be

370
00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:58,519
located somewhere in this area, correct. She pointed to a

371
00:18:58,559 --> 00:19:04,160
system about fifty light years away. Yes, approximately there. Vextella nodded, excellent.

372
00:19:04,880 --> 00:19:07,200
That location would give us a useful outpust for monitoring

373
00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:10,920
hedgemany activities in that sector. Your world would be well protected,

374
00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:13,359
and Urre could serve as a base for our patrol fleets.

375
00:19:13,759 --> 00:19:17,720
What kind of protection would you provide, par asked, complete

376
00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:21,599
military protection, Exteller replied proudly. Any species that threatens a

377
00:19:21,640 --> 00:19:23,880
Confederation member would face the full might of our fleet.

378
00:19:24,519 --> 00:19:27,640
We have over three thousand warships, including fifty dreadnoughts like

379
00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:32,359
this one. Hayes looked impressed. Three thousand ships. That is

380
00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:36,000
a very large fleet. Great it is, indeed, and with

381
00:19:36,119 --> 00:19:39,000
Terror's membership, we would station a permanent patrol force in

382
00:19:39,039 --> 00:19:42,279
your system, perhaps twenty ships initially, with more if needed.

383
00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:46,079
Jen appeared to consider this. What would Terror be expected

384
00:19:46,079 --> 00:19:49,559
to contribute in return? Fixtell's expression became more business like,

385
00:19:50,119 --> 00:19:53,960
nothing too difficult. Terror would provide raw materials for our shiphood,

386
00:19:54,039 --> 00:19:57,279
agricultural products for our worlds that focus on manufacturing, and

387
00:19:57,359 --> 00:20:00,720
workers for various projects throughout the Confederation. What kinds of

388
00:20:00,799 --> 00:20:05,640
raw materials? Rodrigis wanted to know? Metals, crystals, radioactive elements

389
00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:09,119
for our power systems. Your world probably has large reserves

390
00:20:09,119 --> 00:20:10,920
of such materials that you are not using yet. In

391
00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:16,640
agricultural products, food crops, luxury atoms, exact spices. Many of

392
00:20:16,680 --> 00:20:19,200
our industrial worlds cannot grow their own food, so they

393
00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:23,400
depend on agricultural worlds to feed their populations. Shun frowned slightly.

394
00:20:23,960 --> 00:20:27,119
How much food would turn you to provide perhaps thirty

395
00:20:27,119 --> 00:20:31,720
percent of your total agricultural output. Pastella said casually that

396
00:20:31,759 --> 00:20:34,759
would leave plenty for your own population. Park Luck concerned,

397
00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:37,640
thirty percent seems like quite a lot for a new member.

398
00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:41,680
Pixtella waved one of her fourhands dismissively. It may seem

399
00:20:41,759 --> 00:20:44,319
like much now, but remember that you would receive advanced

400
00:20:44,319 --> 00:20:48,200
farming technology in return. Zephyri and agricultural methods could increase

401
00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:50,839
your crop peels by three or four times. You would

402
00:20:50,839 --> 00:20:53,440
actually produce much more food than before, even after providing

403
00:20:53,480 --> 00:20:57,400
your contribution to the confederation. Shun nodded slowly. And the

404
00:20:57,440 --> 00:21:00,759
workers you mentioned various, Perhaps five percent of your adult

405
00:21:00,839 --> 00:21:05,559
population initially has did some quick mental calculations. Five percent

406
00:21:05,599 --> 00:21:08,680
of Terror's population is about fifty million people. Is that

407
00:21:08,759 --> 00:21:12,480
a problem, Excel asked. They would be well treated and

408
00:21:12,519 --> 00:21:15,759
paid fair wages. Many you would learn valuable skills that

409
00:21:15,799 --> 00:21:18,519
they could bring back to Terror. Sean was quiet for

410
00:21:19,279 --> 00:21:23,200
a moment, apparently thinking, Commander, these are very generous offers,

411
00:21:23,880 --> 00:21:27,240
but they represent major commitments for Terror. Our government would

412
00:21:27,279 --> 00:21:29,680
need to study all the details carefully before making such

413
00:21:29,720 --> 00:21:33,960
important decisions. Of course, Fixtella replied, but I should mention

414
00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:38,240
that there are some time pressures involved. Time pressures Faxteller's

415
00:21:38,279 --> 00:21:42,359
expression became more serious. The galactic situation is always changing.

416
00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:45,759
Right now, Terror is in a claimed space, which means

417
00:21:45,799 --> 00:21:47,960
any of the major powers could decide to expand into

418
00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:51,160
your region. If Tara is not under Confederation protection, you

419
00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:53,559
could find yourselves face in demands from the Hegemony or

420
00:21:53,559 --> 00:21:55,720
the Collective. She paused for effect, and I can assure

421
00:21:55,759 --> 00:21:57,680
you that those powers are much less generous than we are.

422
00:21:57,720 --> 00:22:00,279
The hedgemen Is simply conquers primitive species in ten them

423
00:22:00,319 --> 00:22:02,799
into slave wells. The Collective absorbs other species into their

424
00:22:02,839 --> 00:22:06,400
hive mind, destroying their individual cultures completely. Chen looked alarmed.

425
00:22:07,039 --> 00:22:11,000
That sounds terrible. It is. That is why time is important.

426
00:22:11,599 --> 00:22:14,279
The longer Terror remains unprotected, the greater the risk that

427
00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:16,799
one of our enemies will discover your world and claim

428
00:22:16,799 --> 00:22:20,640
it for themselves. Park lean forward. How much time do

429
00:22:20,720 --> 00:22:23,119
we have? It is hard to say months, perhaps a

430
00:22:23,200 --> 00:22:26,599
year at most. The Hegemony has been expanding in this direction,

431
00:22:26,720 --> 00:22:29,279
and their scout ships could reach Terror's region at any time.

432
00:22:29,799 --> 00:22:32,440
She stood up and walked to the holographic map. She

433
00:22:32,519 --> 00:22:36,000
studied it for several minutes, asking detailed questions about patrol routes,

434
00:22:36,039 --> 00:22:40,319
communication systems, and defensive strategies. The Xtella answered all her

435
00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:43,200
questions freely, clearly believing that the primitive humans needed to

436
00:22:43,240 --> 00:22:46,880
understand how galactic politics worked. This is all very complex,

437
00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:49,720
she said. Finally, I can see what Terror would benefit

438
00:22:49,759 --> 00:22:53,599
from confederation prediction. But our government will need detailed reports

439
00:22:53,599 --> 00:22:56,559
about everything we have learned here. How long will that take,

440
00:22:57,200 --> 00:23:01,079
Axtella asked, at least fourty eight iOS. We need to

441
00:23:01,079 --> 00:23:03,839
send detailed missages back to Terror and wait for instructions

442
00:23:03,839 --> 00:23:08,400
from our leaders. Vextelle looked disappointed, but nodded very well.

443
00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:10,920
But I hope Terror will not delay too long. Every

444
00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:13,839
day of delay increases the risk to your world. As

445
00:23:13,839 --> 00:23:16,200
the meeting ended, can thank the Zafriing commander for her

446
00:23:16,240 --> 00:23:19,440
patients and information. The humans returned to their ship carrying

447
00:23:19,519 --> 00:23:22,160
data chips with detailed information about the protection treaty in

448
00:23:22,160 --> 00:23:26,000
galactic politics. Once they were safely back aboard, the Indomitable

449
00:23:26,039 --> 00:23:30,000
Chen called her officers to get her again, well, she asked,

450
00:23:30,720 --> 00:23:33,839
Rodrigue shook her head in amazement. They told us everything

451
00:23:34,440 --> 00:23:39,160
fleet positions, defense, the strategies, resource requirements, political weaknesses. That

452
00:23:39,319 --> 00:23:41,200
is like they want us to know how to defeat them.

453
00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:43,279
They think we are too primitive to understand the military

454
00:23:43,319 --> 00:23:46,400
significance of what they are telling us. Pock observed Hayes

455
00:23:46,519 --> 00:23:49,000
was looking at his notes. Did you hear what she

456
00:23:49,119 --> 00:23:52,000
said about terror providing fifty million workers? That is not

457
00:23:52,039 --> 00:23:54,880
a protection treaty. It is a blueprint for economic exploitation.

458
00:23:55,480 --> 00:23:58,720
Chen nodded grimly, and thirty percent of our agricultural Albert

459
00:23:58,759 --> 00:24:00,960
would mean starvation from miln of humans. They are not

460
00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:04,000
offering protection. They are planning to strip mine our entire civilization.

461
00:24:04,119 --> 00:24:07,039
She walked to the communications console. Rodriguez send a message

462
00:24:07,039 --> 00:24:09,759
to Task Force Omega. Tell them to accelerate the deployment schedule.

463
00:24:09,799 --> 00:24:12,920
I warned, all ships in position within twenty four ioss, Captain,

464
00:24:13,119 --> 00:24:15,680
what about our response to the Zaphiine's unsmiled coldly. We

465
00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:17,640
will give them an answer, just not the one they

466
00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:20,240
are expecting. Is time to show these aliens what humanity

467
00:24:20,279 --> 00:24:22,640
is rarely capable of. Outside the winter, more lights appeared

468
00:24:22,640 --> 00:24:24,880
in the darkness of space as additional human ships began

469
00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:27,400
arriving in the system. To the Zephrians, they looked like

470
00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:30,119
harmless merchant vessels and research ships. They had no idea

471
00:24:30,160 --> 00:24:32,559
that each new arrival was actually a heavily armed warship

472
00:24:32,680 --> 00:24:34,759
moving into position for what would become the most one

473
00:24:34,799 --> 00:24:37,519
sided battle and galactic history of Tactical analyst Cretit set

474
00:24:37,519 --> 00:24:39,920
at his work station aboard the sovereigns Well, staring at

475
00:24:39,920 --> 00:24:42,720
the data streams flowing across his multiple displaced screens. As

476
00:24:42,759 --> 00:24:44,799
one of the youngest officers in the ship, he often

477
00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:47,599
drew the boring assignments like monitoring sensor readings and trucking

478
00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:50,759
ship movements. Most days, nothing interesting happened in the KEPPELMNS

479
00:24:50,759 --> 00:24:53,200
four hundred forty two system. Today was different, though, more

480
00:24:53,240 --> 00:24:55,359
human ships had been arriving throughout the past day, and

481
00:24:55,440 --> 00:24:57,319
something about them bought the tim Pretam was good with

482
00:24:57,400 --> 00:24:59,960
numbers and patents. This brain worked differently than most Uphrians,

483
00:25:00,240 --> 00:25:02,599
which made him excellent at spotting things that others missed.

484
00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:04,480
The first thing that caught his attention was the way

485
00:25:04,519 --> 00:25:07,240
the human ships moved. When primitive species traveled through space,

486
00:25:07,359 --> 00:25:10,160
their formations were usually random and disorganized. They had not

487
00:25:10,279 --> 00:25:12,720
learned proper fleet tactics yet, so the ships wandered around

488
00:25:12,759 --> 00:25:15,000
like lost children. But these human ships were different. They

489
00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:17,680
appeared to be moving randomly, but when Kurtain plotted their

490
00:25:17,680 --> 00:25:21,119
positions on his tactical displayed. He noticed something interesting. Despite

491
00:25:21,160 --> 00:25:23,880
looking scattered and in organized, the ships were actually positioned

492
00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:27,200
to provide overlapping fields of fire and mutual defensive support. Computer,

493
00:25:27,440 --> 00:25:29,920
he said, quietly, analyzed the current positions of all human

494
00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:32,559
vessels in the system calculate optimal fire in solutions and

495
00:25:32,640 --> 00:25:35,519
defensive coverage patterns. The computer hamm for a few seconds,

496
00:25:35,559 --> 00:25:38,279
then displayed its results. Kurtin aslogized widened as he studied

497
00:25:38,279 --> 00:25:40,640
the date that the human ships were positioned almost perfectly

498
00:25:40,640 --> 00:25:43,559
for a coordinated attack. Every major Zefin vessel was covered

499
00:25:43,599 --> 00:25:45,720
by at least three different fire and angles. If the

500
00:25:45,799 --> 00:25:48,440
humans were enemies, they could not have chosen better positions,

501
00:25:48,559 --> 00:25:51,400
but that was impossible. These were primitive explorers and merchants,

502
00:25:51,559 --> 00:25:54,559
not military strategists. They probably did not even understand basic

503
00:25:54,640 --> 00:25:57,839
spaced tactics. Kretin tried a different approach. Computer compared the

504
00:25:57,920 --> 00:26:00,640
energy signatures of the human vessels with non ships classifications

505
00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:02,960
in the galactic database. More data appeared on his screens.

506
00:26:02,960 --> 00:26:05,400
This was even more confusing. The human ships were broadcasting

507
00:26:05,480 --> 00:26:08,359
energy signatures that mapped simple cargo holers in research vessels,

508
00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:10,400
but when Kreta looked more closely at the readings. He

509
00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:13,359
noticed tiny inconsistencies. The power levels were too stable for

510
00:26:13,400 --> 00:26:16,000
primitive fusion reactors, the engine emissions showed traces of his

511
00:26:16,119 --> 00:26:18,720
artic matter that only advanced civilizations could produce, and the

512
00:26:18,720 --> 00:26:22,319
electromagnetic signatures suggested the presence of sophisticated scanning equipment far

513
00:26:22,319 --> 00:26:25,079
beyond what merchant ships would normally carry. That is strange,

514
00:26:25,160 --> 00:26:27,279
kret And muddered to himself. He had never seen readings

515
00:26:27,359 --> 00:26:29,480
quite like these before. He decided to run a deeper

516
00:26:29,480 --> 00:26:31,480
analysis in the largest human ship, the one that had

517
00:26:31,519 --> 00:26:34,559
arrived second. According to its identification signals, it was called

518
00:26:34,559 --> 00:26:37,799
the merchant vessel Prosperity and was carrying agricultural products for trade.

519
00:26:37,799 --> 00:26:40,240
The computer scanned the ship with passive senses, trying to

520
00:26:40,240 --> 00:26:42,960
penetrate its hull and examine its internal structure. What affern

521
00:26:43,039 --> 00:26:45,160
made no sense at all that the ship's cargo bays

522
00:26:45,160 --> 00:26:47,920
were the red size and shape for agricultural storage, but

523
00:26:47,960 --> 00:26:50,559
that were almost empty instead of crops and livestock. The

524
00:26:50,559 --> 00:26:53,400
standing equipment detected complex machinery and what appeared to be

525
00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:56,079
military equipment. There were also large empty spaces that could

526
00:26:56,079 --> 00:26:59,000
be weapons bays, though no weapons were currently visible. Most

527
00:26:59,000 --> 00:27:01,200
puzzing of off the ship mass readings did not match

528
00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:03,680
its apparent's eyes. According to the senses, the vessel was

529
00:27:03,759 --> 00:27:06,039
nearly twice as heavy as it should be for its dimensions.

530
00:27:06,039 --> 00:27:08,240
That suggested it had hidden compartments or at much tiker

531
00:27:08,240 --> 00:27:10,000
hel than it appeared to have. Creten sat back in

532
00:27:10,039 --> 00:27:12,799
his chair, thinking hot. There were several possible explanations for

533
00:27:12,839 --> 00:27:15,240
these readings. The humans might have more advanced technology than

534
00:27:15,279 --> 00:27:17,759
they claimed, other ships might be designed for multiple purposes,

535
00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:20,319
or the Zephyran senses might be malfunctioning. He decided to

536
00:27:20,400 --> 00:27:22,599
check the other human vessels. One by one, he scanned

537
00:27:22,640 --> 00:27:24,880
each ship in the system. The results were similar every time.

538
00:27:24,960 --> 00:27:27,720
The ships looked primitive and harmless, but their energy signatures

539
00:27:27,720 --> 00:27:29,839
and mass readings suggested they were much more advanced than

540
00:27:29,880 --> 00:27:32,319
they appeared. By the time he finished his analysis, Cretin

541
00:27:32,400 --> 00:27:34,359
was deeply worried. He had found at least a dozen

542
00:27:34,400 --> 00:27:37,279
major in consistencies in the human fleet. Taken individually, each

543
00:27:37,359 --> 00:27:39,559
one could be explained away, but together they painted a

544
00:27:39,559 --> 00:27:41,839
picture that made him very uncomfortable. He stood up and

545
00:27:41,880 --> 00:27:43,960
bought across the bridge to the command station where Command

546
00:27:43,960 --> 00:27:46,960
of Uxtella was reviewing reports from the diplomatic medians. Commander,

547
00:27:47,079 --> 00:27:49,119
he said hestantly, I need to show it you something.

548
00:27:49,160 --> 00:27:51,920
Faxilla looked up from her data. Pat what is it, Kretin.

549
00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:54,039
It is about the human ships. Command. I have been

550
00:27:54,039 --> 00:27:56,599
analyzing their positions and energy signatures, and I found some

551
00:27:56,680 --> 00:27:59,960
unusual readings. Unusual how Critin activated the main tactical display

552
00:28:00,039 --> 00:28:02,480
and showed her the formation patterns here discovered. Look at

553
00:28:02,480 --> 00:28:05,400
their possessions, Commander. They appay random, then, but they actually

554
00:28:05,440 --> 00:28:08,839
provide optimal tactical coverage of our fleet. Vaxella studied the

555
00:28:08,839 --> 00:28:12,839
display for a moment, then shrugged. Coincident. Primitive species sometimes

556
00:28:12,839 --> 00:28:16,119
stumble into decent formations by accident, perhaps, Commander, But there

557
00:28:16,160 --> 00:28:19,839
are other issues curtain switch to the energy signature analysis.

558
00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:23,759
Their ships are broadcasting power readings consistent with primitive technology.

559
00:28:23,880 --> 00:28:26,759
But but the detailed scans showing consistencies. He pointed to

560
00:28:26,799 --> 00:28:29,559
several date streams on the screen. These exotic matter traces,

561
00:28:29,599 --> 00:28:32,480
the electromagnetic signatures, the mass readings that do not match

562
00:28:32,480 --> 00:28:35,680
the apparent health sizes. Taken together, they suggest the human

563
00:28:35,720 --> 00:28:38,279
ships are not what they claim to be. The Stella

564
00:28:38,960 --> 00:28:41,960
frowned as she studied the data. What are you suggesting, Analyst.

565
00:28:42,079 --> 00:28:44,720
I am not sure, Commander, but I think we should

566
00:28:44,759 --> 00:28:46,640
be more careful or on these humans. Something about their

567
00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:48,519
fleet does not add apt. The commander was quiet for

568
00:28:48,519 --> 00:28:50,799
a long moment, considering what she had been shown. Finally,

569
00:28:50,839 --> 00:28:53,079
she shook her head cretenure overthinking this. Yes, there are

570
00:28:53,119 --> 00:28:55,240
some unusual regions, but that is normal when dealing with

571
00:28:55,319 --> 00:28:58,359
unfamiliar technology. Ever, species builds the shits differently. She gestured

572
00:28:58,359 --> 00:29:00,759
toward the communication logs from the diplomatic meetings. I have

573
00:29:00,799 --> 00:29:03,240
been talking with the humans for two days. They are polite, curious,

574
00:29:03,240 --> 00:29:05,920
and complete the harmless. Captain Chin is obviously intelligent, but

575
00:29:05,960 --> 00:29:09,000
she is also clearly overwhelmed by the complexity of galactic civilization.

576
00:29:09,079 --> 00:29:11,839
But commanded the tactical formations of meaningless fix all interrupted.

577
00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:14,200
Even if the human's position the Shuitz perfectly for an attack,

578
00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:16,000
what could they possibly do to us? The most powerful

579
00:29:16,079 --> 00:29:18,279
vessel is smaller than our frigates. Their weapons are primitive

580
00:29:18,319 --> 00:29:20,720
chemical rockets and basic energy projectors. They could not hurt

581
00:29:20,720 --> 00:29:22,559
our shields even if they tried. Correct and wanted to

582
00:29:22,640 --> 00:29:24,599
argue further, but he conceded the commander had made up

583
00:29:24,640 --> 00:29:27,200
at mind and Zephyrn culture. Junior officers did not contradict

584
00:29:27,279 --> 00:29:29,359
the superiors without very strong evidence, and he had to

585
00:29:29,359 --> 00:29:31,960
admit that his concerns were based mostly on suspicious patterns

586
00:29:32,039 --> 00:29:34,519
rather than conquete proof. Yes, Commander, he said, finally, good.

587
00:29:34,559 --> 00:29:37,000
Now return to your station and continue monitoring the system,

588
00:29:37,000 --> 00:29:39,119
but stop looking for problems that do not exist. As

589
00:29:39,119 --> 00:29:40,880
corret and walked back to his work stition, he felt

590
00:29:40,880 --> 00:29:43,559
frustrated and worried. His analytical mind told him that something

591
00:29:43,640 --> 00:29:45,319
was very wrong with the human fleet, but he could

592
00:29:45,319 --> 00:29:47,039
not prove it, and even if he could, would anyone

593
00:29:47,039 --> 00:29:48,920
listen to him? Memewhile on the other side of the bridge,

594
00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:51,720
communications officer Ravin was having her own concerns. She had

595
00:29:51,759 --> 00:29:54,279
been monitoring all transmissions between the human ships, hoping to

596
00:29:54,319 --> 00:29:56,640
learn more about their language and culture. What she found

597
00:29:56,680 --> 00:29:59,400
was puzzling. The humans were using sophisticated encryption methods for

598
00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:01,799
their internal cos communications. That was unusual for a primitive

599
00:30:01,799 --> 00:30:04,960
species that had supposedly just developed hipspurce travel. More concerning

600
00:30:05,039 --> 00:30:06,720
was the content of the few messages she had been

601
00:30:06,720 --> 00:30:09,799
able to decode. Instead of discussing trade goods or exploration plans.

602
00:30:09,839 --> 00:30:12,240
That humans seemed to be coordinating something they called deployment

603
00:30:12,319 --> 00:30:15,440
schedules and tactical assessments. THEO sounded like military terms, not

604
00:30:15,519 --> 00:30:17,720
the language of peaceful merchants and explorers. For Reven had

605
00:30:17,720 --> 00:30:20,359
also noticed that the human ships were conducting very detailed

606
00:30:20,359 --> 00:30:22,759
scans of the Zephyran fleet, much more detailed than would

607
00:30:22,799 --> 00:30:25,240
be needed for simple scentific curiosity. It was almost as

608
00:30:25,279 --> 00:30:27,920
if they were mapping weapon systems and defensive capabilities. She

609
00:30:27,960 --> 00:30:31,079
considered reporting these observations to Command of Exteller, but decided

610
00:30:31,119 --> 00:30:33,279
against it. The commander is seen convinced that the humans

611
00:30:33,279 --> 00:30:35,519
were harmless primitives, and Riven did not want her per

612
00:30:35,519 --> 00:30:38,400
paranoid or incompetent. Instead, she decided to keep monitoring the

613
00:30:38,480 --> 00:30:40,960
human communications more closely. If she could decode more of

614
00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:43,400
their messages, patch she would find something concrete enough to

615
00:30:43,480 --> 00:30:46,200
justify her consents. Two days after the first diplomatic meeting,

616
00:30:46,279 --> 00:30:48,839
Captain Chin sent a message requesting another conference with Command

617
00:30:48,880 --> 00:30:50,960
of Extello. She said that Terry had received the information

618
00:30:51,000 --> 00:30:53,039
about the protection treaty and was ready to provide an

619
00:30:53,039 --> 00:30:55,480
official response. Of Extello was pleased. She had expected the

620
00:30:55,559 --> 00:30:57,880
humans to accept the treaty eagerly, and she looked forward

621
00:30:57,920 --> 00:31:00,799
to welcoming another species into the Confederation. The signing ceremony

622
00:31:00,799 --> 00:31:02,920
would be good for her career, and Toro would provide

623
00:31:02,920 --> 00:31:05,279
these four resources for the ongoing conflicts with the Hegemony

624
00:31:05,319 --> 00:31:07,079
and the collect If. The meeting was scheduled for the

625
00:31:07,079 --> 00:31:09,359
next morning, Chin and her usual team of officers arrived

626
00:31:09,359 --> 00:31:12,000
at the appointed time, still wearing their environmental seats. They

627
00:31:12,039 --> 00:31:14,720
seemed more confident than before, walking with purpose and speaking

628
00:31:14,759 --> 00:31:16,759
more directly. Command of extell A, Chin said as she

629
00:31:16,880 --> 00:31:19,000
entered the meeting chamber, thank you for your patients while

630
00:31:19,039 --> 00:31:21,640
we consulted with our government tore As carefully considered a

631
00:31:21,680 --> 00:31:25,119
generous of excellent Exteller replied, I'm sure your leaders recognized

632
00:31:25,119 --> 00:31:28,200
the benefits of confederation membership. Chinnset down at the conference table,

633
00:31:28,240 --> 00:31:30,160
but she did not lean forward eagerly, as SHF died

634
00:31:30,160 --> 00:31:32,680
in previous meetings. Instead, she sat back in her chair

635
00:31:32,720 --> 00:31:35,359
with her hands folded, looking more like a military officer

636
00:31:35,400 --> 00:31:38,319
than a nervous explorer commander. Before we discussed Terry's response,

637
00:31:38,359 --> 00:31:40,119
I would like to clarify a few things about our

638
00:31:40,200 --> 00:31:42,559
previous conversations. Of course, what would you like to know?

639
00:31:42,680 --> 00:31:44,880
You'd mentioned that TERROR would be expected to provide thirty

640
00:31:44,880 --> 00:31:47,880
percent of our agricultural apport to the confederation. Is that correct?

641
00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:50,960
Years that is the standard contribution for agricultural wells and

642
00:31:51,039 --> 00:31:54,160
fifty million workers for various projects approximately, est and Terror

643
00:31:54,160 --> 00:31:57,640
would also provide raw materials, including metals and radioactive elements

644
00:31:57,680 --> 00:32:00,599
for your past systems. Fixcella nodded. These countries aributions would

645
00:32:00,640 --> 00:32:03,440
ensure Terror's protection and access to advanced technology. Chen was

646
00:32:03,480 --> 00:32:05,920
quiet for a moment. Then look directly at the zephyrn commander.

647
00:32:05,960 --> 00:32:08,440
What you are describing is not a protection treaty, Commander,

648
00:32:08,440 --> 00:32:11,119
it is economic colonization. For Extella was taken aback by

649
00:32:11,160 --> 00:32:13,440
the blunt statement, I do not understand what you mean.

650
00:32:13,480 --> 00:32:15,359
You want us to give you thirty percent of our food,

651
00:32:15,400 --> 00:32:17,960
fifty million of our people, and all of our valuable minerals.

652
00:32:18,000 --> 00:32:20,279
In return, you offer us some technology and protection from

653
00:32:20,359 --> 00:32:22,200
enemies that we have never encountered. This is not a

654
00:32:22,200 --> 00:32:24,839
partnership between equals. It is the relationship between a master

655
00:32:24,880 --> 00:32:27,200
and the servant. The Zephyr commander felt a flash of anger.

656
00:32:27,240 --> 00:32:29,559
Captain Chen, you are being ungrateful that the Confederation is

657
00:32:29,599 --> 00:32:32,599
offering a primitive species the chance to join galactic civilization.

658
00:32:32,720 --> 00:32:35,039
Without our protection, terror will be conjured by the hegemony

659
00:32:35,079 --> 00:32:37,680
or absorbed by the collective chance. Stood up slowly, I see,

660
00:32:37,680 --> 00:32:39,880
and if we refuse your generous offer, then terror will

661
00:32:39,880 --> 00:32:42,400
remain unprotected and vulnerable. The galaxy is a dangerous place

662
00:32:42,440 --> 00:32:45,240
for species that try to survive alone. Is that a threat, Commander?

663
00:32:45,279 --> 00:32:48,200
But Stella realized that the conversation had taken an unexpected term.

664
00:32:48,279 --> 00:32:51,640
She had expected grateful acceptance, not pointed questions and accusations.

665
00:32:51,640 --> 00:32:53,799
That is not a threat, Captain, it is simply reality.

666
00:32:53,880 --> 00:32:57,000
Chuan not have thoughtfully. Thank you for clarifying your position, Commander.

667
00:32:57,079 --> 00:32:59,640
Now let me clarify eyes, she gestured to her officers.

668
00:33:00,200 --> 00:33:02,279
Up with melt Ay precision, their posture and movements were

669
00:33:02,319 --> 00:33:04,799
no longer those of curious explorers. They looked like soldiers

670
00:33:04,799 --> 00:33:07,079
preparing for battle. Command of Xtella Chan said, in a

671
00:33:07,160 --> 00:33:09,440
voice that had become cold and professional. I should inform

672
00:33:09,480 --> 00:33:11,200
you that I have been less than completely honest about

673
00:33:11,200 --> 00:33:13,039
our mission here. What do you mean we are not

674
00:33:13,079 --> 00:33:16,039
explorers seeking peaceful contact and trade opportunities? We are an

675
00:33:16,039 --> 00:33:18,880
advanced reconnaisance unit of the Town Colonial Marines, sent to

676
00:33:18,880 --> 00:33:21,519
evaluate potential firsts to human expansion in this sector. The

677
00:33:21,559 --> 00:33:24,240
meeting chamber fell silent. Pixtella stared at the humans, trying

678
00:33:24,279 --> 00:33:26,319
to process what she had just heard. Over the past

679
00:33:26,359 --> 00:33:29,839
four days, turn continued, we have conducted comprehensive intelligence gathering

680
00:33:29,920 --> 00:33:33,319
operations against your fleet and u civilization. We have analyzed

681
00:33:33,359 --> 00:33:37,319
your weapons, your tactics, youropolitical structure, and your military capabilities.

682
00:33:38,000 --> 00:33:40,359
She paused, consulting a data pad that it appeared in

683
00:33:40,359 --> 00:33:42,680
her hand. We have also mondored your ongoing conflicts with

684
00:33:42,720 --> 00:33:45,799
the Hedgemony of Kat and the Chrystaline Collective. Your species

685
00:33:45,839 --> 00:33:48,759
has been engaged in these. The bridge of the sovereigns

686
00:33:48,759 --> 00:33:51,680
will erupted into Chaos's Alarms bladed and warning lights flashed

687
00:33:51,680 --> 00:33:55,480
thread across every control panel. Officers shouted orders and questions

688
00:33:55,519 --> 00:33:57,960
while their instruments showed readings that should have been impossible.

689
00:33:58,000 --> 00:34:01,400
Commander Extell stood for as in the meeting chamber, stirring

690
00:34:01,440 --> 00:34:04,160
a Captain chan. The human woman no longer looked like

691
00:34:04,200 --> 00:34:07,920
a nervous explorer seeking guidance from superior aliens. Her posture

692
00:34:07,960 --> 00:34:11,159
was straight and confident, her eyes cold and calculating. She

693
00:34:11,239 --> 00:34:13,400
looked like what she really was, a predator who had

694
00:34:13,400 --> 00:34:16,880
been studying her prey. This cannot be happening. Faxsilla whispered,

695
00:34:17,440 --> 00:34:20,280
your ship to primitive, for your technology is centers behind hours.

696
00:34:20,920 --> 00:34:23,480
She tilted her head slightly, like a teacher correcting a

697
00:34:23,480 --> 00:34:26,760
slow student. Commander, everything you think you know about human

698
00:34:26,800 --> 00:34:30,039
technology is wrong. We showed you exactly what we wanted

699
00:34:30,039 --> 00:34:33,840
you to see. On the tactical displays bround the bridge.

700
00:34:33,880 --> 00:34:37,119
The transformation of the human fleet continued. What it appeared

701
00:34:37,119 --> 00:34:39,320
to be a small merchant vessel called the Prosperity was

702
00:34:39,360 --> 00:34:42,639
now revealed as a massive battle cruiser, nearly as large

703
00:34:42,639 --> 00:34:45,000
as the sovereigns will as Hopelessold, with weapon arrays that

704
00:34:45,039 --> 00:34:49,280
looked unlike anything in the Zephyrne database. Another ship that

705
00:34:49,280 --> 00:34:51,880
had identified itself as a research vessel was dropping its

706
00:34:51,880 --> 00:34:55,119
disguise to reveal sleek fighter bays and missile launchers. A

707
00:34:55,159 --> 00:34:59,079
third vessel, supposedly carrying agricultural supplies was extending massive sense

708
00:34:59,159 --> 00:35:01,480
or arrays in what appeared to be some kind of

709
00:35:01,559 --> 00:35:04,079
energy cann Nott tactical annals. Curtain rushed into the meeting

710
00:35:04,159 --> 00:35:07,239
chamber of his face pale with fear. Commander, the human

711
00:35:07,239 --> 00:35:09,840
fleet is not what we thought. The mass readings, the

712
00:35:09,920 --> 00:35:13,760
energy signatures, everything was false. I can see that Vextel

713
00:35:13,880 --> 00:35:16,360
snapped though her voreshook was shock. Chun watched the panic

714
00:35:16,400 --> 00:35:20,239
with commonterest annals Kreton. Is it not? You were the

715
00:35:20,239 --> 00:35:23,239
one asking questions about our ship formations and energy readings.

716
00:35:23,360 --> 00:35:26,920
We not. Kreton stared at her in surprise. How do

717
00:35:26,960 --> 00:35:30,199
you know my name? We have been monitoring all communications

718
00:35:30,199 --> 00:35:32,960
on your ship since our first visit. Your concerns were

719
00:35:33,000 --> 00:35:36,400
quite perceptive. Actually, you almost figured out what we were doing.

720
00:35:37,039 --> 00:35:40,760
She turned back to Vixilla. Unfortunately, your commander chose to

721
00:35:40,800 --> 00:35:44,000
ignore those warnings. That was a mistake. Vixela tried to

722
00:35:44,039 --> 00:35:47,079
regain her composure. What do you want If this is

723
00:35:47,119 --> 00:35:49,880
some kind of elaborare first contact procedure, you have made

724
00:35:49,920 --> 00:35:54,559
your point, Sean laugh a sound without humor, Commander, the

725
00:35:54,639 --> 00:35:56,960
stop being a first contact saturation. The moment you offered

726
00:35:56,960 --> 00:35:59,679
to enslave my species, did you really think we would

727
00:35:59,679 --> 00:36:01,599
hand over over fifty million of our people and thirty

728
00:36:01,639 --> 00:36:03,800
percent of our food production to aliens? We had just

729
00:36:03,920 --> 00:36:07,280
met that is the standard arrangement for new species joining

730
00:36:07,320 --> 00:36:11,920
galactic civilization exactly, and that tells you s everything we

731
00:36:12,000 --> 00:36:15,679
need to know about galactic civilization. Kang began pacing around

732
00:36:15,679 --> 00:36:18,519
the meeting table, her movements controlled and purposeful. For the

733
00:36:18,559 --> 00:36:21,639
past six months, TERROR has been conducting covert reconnaissance missions

734
00:36:21,639 --> 00:36:25,199
throughout this region of space. We have studied the Zephrian Confederation,

735
00:36:25,280 --> 00:36:28,880
the Hedgemony of cath and the Crystalline Collective. She paused

736
00:36:28,920 --> 00:36:32,119
to look directly at Fixthala. Do you know what we found?

737
00:36:32,360 --> 00:36:36,119
Three declining powers, locked and pointless conflicts using outdated tactics

738
00:36:36,119 --> 00:36:39,760
and primitive strategies. You have been fighting the same war

739
00:36:39,800 --> 00:36:42,880
for two hundred years without achieving anything except massive cashulders.

740
00:36:43,559 --> 00:36:46,559
Our military might is proven in battle. Extella protested weakly,

741
00:36:47,159 --> 00:36:50,000
your military might as a joke. Chan replied bluntly. You

742
00:36:50,079 --> 00:36:52,559
build a normous ships designed for long range bombardment and

743
00:36:52,599 --> 00:36:56,159
attrition warfare. You group your fleets in predictable formations around

744
00:36:56,159 --> 00:37:00,360
major worlds, Your logistics chains are vulnerable or communications systems

745
00:37:00,360 --> 00:37:03,159
are easily interceptive, and your tactical doctrine has not changed

746
00:37:03,159 --> 00:37:06,599
in centuries. She gestured toward the tactical displays showing the

747
00:37:06,639 --> 00:37:10,599
human ships. Humanity has been studying warfare for our entire history.

748
00:37:11,119 --> 00:37:13,239
We know how to fight efficiently and how to win quickly.

749
00:37:13,800 --> 00:37:17,000
We do not waste two hundred years accomplish in nothing, Cliants,

750
00:37:17,679 --> 00:37:20,599
Officer Rodriguez spoke for the first time since the alarms began,

751
00:37:21,239 --> 00:37:24,000
Command of Extello, Our nalysais of your conflict shows that

752
00:37:24,039 --> 00:37:27,280
all three powers in this region are technologically stagnant. You

753
00:37:27,320 --> 00:37:30,119
have advanced individual systems, but you have forgotten how to

754
00:37:30,119 --> 00:37:34,119
innovate or adapt. Lieutenant Commander Park added, your species relies

755
00:37:34,119 --> 00:37:37,400
on overwhelming firepar and heavy armor, but modern warfare is

756
00:37:37,440 --> 00:37:41,280
about speed, deception, and precision. Strikes. Size and strength mean

757
00:37:41,320 --> 00:37:44,320
nothing if you cannot hit your target. Fixtello looked around

758
00:37:44,320 --> 00:37:48,079
the room desperately. This is madness. Even if your ships

759
00:37:48,079 --> 00:37:49,920
are more advanced than they appeared, you only have a

760
00:37:49,960 --> 00:37:53,840
dozen vessels. We have hundreds of ships throughout this system,

761
00:37:53,880 --> 00:37:57,360
in thousands more throughout the Confederation. Juhn smiled again that

762
00:37:57,480 --> 00:38:00,800
cold expression that was becoming familiar. Come ender, how many

763
00:38:00,880 --> 00:38:03,920
human ships do you think are really in a system? Twelve?

764
00:38:04,559 --> 00:38:08,559
We counted them as they arrived. Look again, shuntouched her

765
00:38:08,599 --> 00:38:11,280
day pattern. The tactical displays a dedd with new information.

766
00:38:12,000 --> 00:38:15,159
Suddenly the system was full of human ships. Dozens of

767
00:38:15,239 --> 00:38:17,679
vessels that had been completely invisible were now showing on

768
00:38:17,719 --> 00:38:21,239
the sensors. They surrounded every Zaffrean position and covered every

769
00:38:21,239 --> 00:38:25,239
possible escape route. Forty seven ships chun Announce, all equipped

770
00:38:25,239 --> 00:38:27,920
with stealth technology that makes them invisible to your sensors,

771
00:38:27,960 --> 00:38:30,239
have been here for three days, studying your fleet and

772
00:38:30,280 --> 00:38:33,719
preparing for this moment. Creton stared at the display in horror.

773
00:38:34,239 --> 00:38:36,719
How is this possible? Our sensors should have detected them.

774
00:38:36,760 --> 00:38:39,679
Your sensors detected exactly what we wanted them to detect.

775
00:38:39,719 --> 00:38:43,639
Rodriguez explained, human stealth technology is based on principles your

776
00:38:43,679 --> 00:38:45,760
science has not discovered yet. We can make our ships

777
00:38:45,760 --> 00:38:48,440
appear to be anything we want, or make them disappear entirely.

778
00:38:48,519 --> 00:38:50,800
Chin walked over to stand directly in front of Extella.

779
00:38:50,880 --> 00:38:53,280
But the real question, Commander, is not how many ships

780
00:38:53,280 --> 00:38:55,159
we have here. The real question is what tr plans

781
00:38:55,199 --> 00:38:56,840
to do with this region of space. What do you

782
00:38:56,920 --> 00:38:59,920
mean humanity is expanding into the galaxy, Commander. We need

783
00:39:00,039 --> 00:39:03,639
new worlds, new resources, and new territories for our growing population.

784
00:39:03,719 --> 00:39:05,800
This region of space is what we need. Dick Stella

785
00:39:05,840 --> 00:39:07,840
felt the cold fear growing in her chest. You want

786
00:39:07,840 --> 00:39:10,480
to conquer us conquer now, Commander. Conquest implies that if

787
00:39:10,480 --> 00:39:12,440
we see you as equals worth fighting, what we want

788
00:39:12,519 --> 00:39:14,079
is for you to get out of our way. Chantan

789
00:39:14,119 --> 00:39:16,159
to address the others after in officers who had gathered

790
00:39:16,159 --> 00:39:18,639
in the meeting chamber. The Terran colonial government has concluded

791
00:39:18,639 --> 00:39:21,079
that the current political situation in this region is unstable

792
00:39:21,119 --> 00:39:24,119
and inefficient. Three powers fighting, endless wars, millions of casualties,

793
00:39:24,239 --> 00:39:26,480
no progress for centuries. That is a waste of valuable

794
00:39:26,480 --> 00:39:29,239
space and resources. Tye pause to let the sink end terrors.

795
00:39:29,239 --> 00:39:31,639
Prepared to bring order and efficiency to this region. Worlds

796
00:39:31,639 --> 00:39:34,039
that cooperate with human expansion will be allowed to maintain

797
00:39:34,079 --> 00:39:36,519
the local governments and cultures. Worlds that resist will be

798
00:39:36,559 --> 00:39:39,519
pacified and placed under direct human administration. You cannot do this,

799
00:39:39,800 --> 00:39:43,079
Vexetella protested. There are laws, treaties, galactica cares that prevent

800
00:39:43,119 --> 00:39:46,159
one species from conquering others. Chan laughed again. Laws, Commander,

801
00:39:46,239 --> 00:39:48,119
you just spend two days trying to trick us into

802
00:39:48,159 --> 00:39:50,280
signing a treaty that would have made humanity your slaves.

803
00:39:50,360 --> 00:39:52,679
You have no moral authority to lectures about laws. She

804
00:39:52,760 --> 00:39:55,719
gestured toward the technical display. Besides, who is going to

805
00:39:55,719 --> 00:39:58,079
stop us at your feet? The hegemony, the collective. All

806
00:39:58,119 --> 00:40:00,519
three of your powers combined could not match where humanity

807
00:40:00,519 --> 00:40:03,280
can deploy in this region. Intelligent specialist Hate spoke up

808
00:40:03,280 --> 00:40:05,440
for the first time. Commander, our Terror has been preparing

809
00:40:05,440 --> 00:40:07,880
for galactic expansion for over fifty years. We have bel

810
00:40:07,960 --> 00:40:10,599
fleets specifically designed to defeat the type of warfare practiced

811
00:40:10,599 --> 00:40:13,079
by local powers. Yere ships are large and impressive, but

812
00:40:13,119 --> 00:40:15,559
they are also slow and vulnerable. Our shield technology alone

813
00:40:15,599 --> 00:40:18,079
makes most of your weapons effective park added, and our

814
00:40:18,159 --> 00:40:21,039
kinetic rippons can penetrate any armor you possessed. Chennauded the

815
00:40:21,079 --> 00:40:23,440
year of a massive ship to ship battles is silver, Commander.

816
00:40:23,559 --> 00:40:27,000
Modern warfare is about information, speed and precision. Humanity learned

817
00:40:27,000 --> 00:40:30,280
that less than centuries ago. Vextella tried one last desperate argument.

818
00:40:30,400 --> 00:40:32,760
Even if you can defeat our fleets, you cannot govern

819
00:40:32,840 --> 00:40:35,559
hundreds of worlds with different species and cultures. The logistics

820
00:40:35,599 --> 00:40:38,559
alone would be impossible. Who said anything about governing chun

821
00:40:38,679 --> 00:40:41,960
ask Commander Terror is not interested in ruling over alien populations.

822
00:40:42,039 --> 00:40:45,000
We want the planets, the resources, and the strategic positions.

823
00:40:45,199 --> 00:40:47,599
What happens to the aliens currently living on those walls

824
00:40:47,639 --> 00:40:49,039
is up to them. She walked over to the star

825
00:40:49,159 --> 00:40:51,519
chart and the meeting table. Species that corporate what human

826
00:40:51,519 --> 00:40:54,199
expansion can remain on their walls as autonomous populations. They

827
00:40:54,239 --> 00:40:57,360
can keep their governments, their cultures, and their ways of life.

828
00:40:57,400 --> 00:40:58,880
All we ask is that they stay out of our

829
00:40:58,920 --> 00:41:01,679
way and provide reasonable access to planetary resources. And if

830
00:41:01,679 --> 00:41:04,320
they refused Tune's expression Hardened, then they can find somewhere

831
00:41:04,320 --> 00:41:06,679
else to live. The galaxy is a big place, Commander.

832
00:41:06,719 --> 00:41:08,920
There are plenty of uninhabited worlds for species that do

833
00:41:09,000 --> 00:41:11,920
not want to coexist with humanity. The meeting chamber fell silent,

834
00:41:11,960 --> 00:41:14,280
except for the continued willing of alarms from the bridge.

835
00:41:14,480 --> 00:41:17,159
Xceller stared at the human captain, finally understanding the true

836
00:41:17,159 --> 00:41:19,519
scope of what was happening. You planned this from the beginning,

837
00:41:19,559 --> 00:41:22,679
she said quietly, The innocent first contact, the diplomatic meetings,

838
00:41:22,719 --> 00:41:25,239
the protection treaty discussions. It was all a lie. Not

839
00:41:25,320 --> 00:41:29,320
a lie, chin corrected intelligence gathering. We needed to understand

840
00:41:29,960 --> 00:41:33,079
how your species thinks, how your military operates and how

841
00:41:33,079 --> 00:41:36,159
you would react to various scenarios. You provided us with

842
00:41:36,199 --> 00:41:39,320
all the information we needed. She gestrewed to her offices.

843
00:41:39,440 --> 00:41:43,159
Lieutenant Commander Park learned about your fleet compositions and defensive strategies.

844
00:41:43,880 --> 00:41:47,719
Science Officer Rodriguez analyzed your technology and identified its weaknesses.

845
00:41:48,360 --> 00:41:52,119
Intelligent specialists, he studied your political structure in communication systems,

846
00:41:52,199 --> 00:41:55,840
and I Chuen concluded, evaluated your leadership and decision making processes.

847
00:41:55,920 --> 00:41:59,159
I must say, Commander, the results were disappointing. De Xstel

848
00:41:59,199 --> 00:42:02,599
felt angerizing above her fear. He used us. He pretended

849
00:42:02,599 --> 00:42:04,880
to be primitive seeking help, and we trusted you. He

850
00:42:04,960 --> 00:42:08,079
trusted us because you are arrogant. Chun replied bluntly, you

851
00:42:08,119 --> 00:42:10,480
assumed that any species would less advanced hips must be

852
00:42:10,559 --> 00:42:13,360
inferior in every way. You never considered that we might

853
00:42:13,360 --> 00:42:16,800
be deliberately hiding our capabilities. She walked toward the door

854
00:42:16,800 --> 00:42:19,960
of the meeting chamber. That arrogance is why your species

855
00:42:19,960 --> 00:42:23,440
has been fighting pointless wars for two centuries. You cannot adapt,

856
00:42:23,599 --> 00:42:26,039
you cannot innovate, and you cannot learn from your mistakes.

857
00:42:26,760 --> 00:42:28,599
As Chen reached the door, she turned back to face

858
00:42:28,760 --> 00:42:31,639
Xtilla one last time, Commander, I am going to return

859
00:42:31,679 --> 00:42:33,679
to my ship now. You have one eye or to

860
00:42:33,719 --> 00:42:36,000
contact her superiors and inform them of the new situation.

861
00:42:36,880 --> 00:42:40,199
What new situation? The Keplerman his four hundred forty two

862
00:42:40,239 --> 00:42:43,440
system is not under human control. Any Zephyrian vessel that

863
00:42:43,480 --> 00:42:46,760
attempts to leave without permission will be destroyed. Any vessel

864
00:42:46,760 --> 00:42:49,719
that powers up weapons will be destroyed. Any vessel that

865
00:42:49,760 --> 00:42:53,039
tries to send messages outside the system will be destroyed.

866
00:42:53,119 --> 00:42:57,559
Chun paused. Your choices are simple, Commander. Surrender your fleet

867
00:42:57,559 --> 00:42:59,800
and prepare to negotiate the terms of Zafaran withdrawal from

868
00:42:59,800 --> 00:43:02,039
this region, or watch your ships burned one by one

869
00:43:02,119 --> 00:43:04,920
until you change your mind. You would murder thousands of

870
00:43:04,920 --> 00:43:08,519
beings just to steel our territory. Chan's expression never changed.

871
00:43:09,199 --> 00:43:12,599
Commander or Turrer did not start this conflict. Your species did.

872
00:43:12,679 --> 00:43:15,199
The moment you decided that humanity should become your slaves.

873
00:43:15,840 --> 00:43:19,000
We are simply finishing it. She activated her communicator and

874
00:43:19,039 --> 00:43:21,360
omitable this as Captain Champ prepared to return to the ship.

875
00:43:21,360 --> 00:43:23,840
The diplomatic phase of this operation is now complete. As

876
00:43:23,840 --> 00:43:26,239
the humans prepared to leave, Chun delivered one final message,

877
00:43:26,239 --> 00:43:28,280
command of Extella, I suggest you use the next eye

878
00:43:28,280 --> 00:43:30,920
a wisely contact your fleet commanders, your government, and anyone

879
00:43:30,920 --> 00:43:32,960
else who needs to understand what is happening here. She

880
00:43:33,000 --> 00:43:35,400
smiled that cold smile one last time, because in exactly

881
00:43:35,400 --> 00:43:37,920
sixty minutes, the ten colodial fleet is going to demonstrate

882
00:43:38,000 --> 00:43:41,440
what happens when primuterive valiins threaten humanity. The door closed

883
00:43:41,440 --> 00:43:44,159
behind the humans, leaving the Zafrin officers alone with their fear,

884
00:43:44,280 --> 00:43:46,880
the shock, and the terrible realization that everything that thought

885
00:43:46,920 --> 00:43:49,920
they knew about the galaxy had just changed forever. Command

886
00:43:49,960 --> 00:43:52,480
of Extell stood alone on the bridge of the Sovereign's Will,

887
00:43:52,599 --> 00:43:54,719
watching the count on time or on her main display.

888
00:43:55,280 --> 00:43:57,800
Fifty three minutes and twenty seconds remained until the human

889
00:43:57,840 --> 00:44:01,119
deadline expired around her. A Brie which crew worked frantically

890
00:44:01,719 --> 00:44:03,800
at the stations, trying to make sense of a situation

891
00:44:03,840 --> 00:44:06,079
that had become a nightmare. A tactical displacered the true

892
00:44:06,119 --> 00:44:09,239
scope of the human fleet. Forty seven warships surrounded the

893
00:44:09,239 --> 00:44:12,440
Sefrian forces in a perfect sphere of death. Every escape

894
00:44:12,480 --> 00:44:15,840
route was blocked, every defensive position was covered by multiple

895
00:44:15,880 --> 00:44:18,840
firing angles. The humans had turned the Kevalim in his

896
00:44:18,880 --> 00:44:21,719
four hundred forty two system into a trap, and the

897
00:44:21,760 --> 00:44:25,000
Safrienns were caught in the center of it. Communications Officer

898
00:44:25,079 --> 00:44:27,320
Ruven Thick still called out her voice horse from stress

899
00:44:27,960 --> 00:44:31,280
any response from fleet command. Riven looked up from her console,

900
00:44:31,320 --> 00:44:35,119
her face pale with worry. No, Commander, the humans are

901
00:44:35,159 --> 00:44:39,360
jamming all long range communications. Our messages are not getting through.

902
00:44:39,800 --> 00:44:42,920
What about the other ships in our fleet? Local communications

903
00:44:42,960 --> 00:44:46,639
are working, but barely. The human jamming is very sophisticated.

904
00:44:47,199 --> 00:44:48,960
They are allowing us to talk to each other, but

905
00:44:49,079 --> 00:44:53,039
preventing any contact with the outside galaxy. The Xtella nodded grimly.

906
00:44:53,679 --> 00:44:56,519
Even the jamming showed how advanced human technology really was.

907
00:44:57,199 --> 00:44:59,800
The Dephrians had always thought their communication systems were among

908
00:44:59,800 --> 00:45:01,880
the bam in the galaxy, but the humans were controlling

909
00:45:01,920 --> 00:45:05,119
them like children playing metaurs. Doc Captain Mordic of the

910
00:45:05,159 --> 00:45:08,719
heavy cruiser Rocheous Fury appeared on the main communication screen.

911
00:45:09,320 --> 00:45:11,880
He was a veteran officer with decades of combat experience,

912
00:45:12,000 --> 00:45:14,840
but to day he looked old and frightened. Commander, he

913
00:45:14,880 --> 00:45:18,159
said urgently, my tactical officers have been analyzing the human fleet.

914
00:45:18,760 --> 00:45:22,800
The situation is worse than we thought. How much worse

915
00:45:23,440 --> 00:45:27,320
those ships are not just advanced, their revolutionary. Our computers

916
00:45:27,320 --> 00:45:30,679
cannot even identify half of their weapons systems. The energy

917
00:45:30,679 --> 00:45:32,840
readings suggests they of five per levels we have never

918
00:45:32,880 --> 00:45:36,400
seen before. Captain's Allure of the destroyer swift Strike joined

919
00:45:36,400 --> 00:45:40,199
the communication channel. Commander, my science officer has been trying

920
00:45:40,199 --> 00:45:42,960
to scan the human vessels. The hulls appear to be

921
00:45:43,000 --> 00:45:45,480
made of materials that do not exist in our databases,

922
00:45:45,519 --> 00:45:48,960
and their shield technology is completely unknown. What are you saying,

923
00:45:49,599 --> 00:45:52,639
Deksal asked that she already feared the answer. We are

924
00:45:52,679 --> 00:45:54,880
saying that if we fight these humans, we will lose,

925
00:45:55,039 --> 00:45:58,199
Mordick replied bluntly, not just this battle, but every ship

926
00:45:58,239 --> 00:46:01,760
in the fleet. They will destroy us completely. Fix Staille

927
00:46:01,840 --> 00:46:03,880
closed her eyes for a moment, trying to think clearly

928
00:46:03,920 --> 00:46:06,679
despite the panic that was threatening to overwhelm her. She

929
00:46:06,719 --> 00:46:09,639
had been a naval officer for thirty years. She had

930
00:46:09,639 --> 00:46:13,360
fought pirates, raiders, and enemy fleets, but she had never

931
00:46:13,400 --> 00:46:17,519
faced anything like this. What about our allies, she asked?

932
00:46:18,199 --> 00:46:21,320
Can we contact the hegemony or the Collective? Even if

933
00:46:21,360 --> 00:46:25,079
we could reached them, Clara said, sadly, what would we

934
00:46:25,119 --> 00:46:28,960
tell them that the primitive species has somehow developed technology

935
00:46:29,000 --> 00:46:32,119
centers ahead of ores, that forty seven unknown ships are

936
00:46:32,159 --> 00:46:35,039
threatening to destroy our entire fleet. They would think we

937
00:46:35,079 --> 00:46:38,119
had gone insane. The timer in the display continued counting

938
00:46:38,159 --> 00:46:42,599
down forty seven minutes and fifteen seconds. Meanwhile, aboard the

939
00:46:42,639 --> 00:46:45,639
TCS Indomitable, Captain Sarah Chan stood in the ship's combat

940
00:46:45,679 --> 00:46:49,679
information center watching her own tactical displays. The zephyrn fleet

941
00:46:49,760 --> 00:46:52,840
was exactly where her intelligence officers had predicted it would be,

942
00:46:53,440 --> 00:46:56,760
grouped in a defensive formation around their flagship, weapons powered,

943
00:46:56,760 --> 00:46:59,679
but not targeted, jeals raised but not at full strength.

944
00:47:00,320 --> 00:47:04,760
Status report, Chun ordered. Lieutenant Commander Park consulted his tactical board.

945
00:47:05,400 --> 00:47:09,079
All ships report ready for combat operations. Weapons systems are

946
00:47:09,199 --> 00:47:13,320
armed and targeting solutions are locked. Stealth systems are functioning normally.

947
00:47:13,920 --> 00:47:17,880
Any movement from the Zephrian fleet negative. They appear to

948
00:47:17,880 --> 00:47:22,079
be holding position and attempting long range communications. All upgoing

949
00:47:22,119 --> 00:47:24,960
messages are being intercepted and Blockchun nodded the Zephrians were

950
00:47:25,000 --> 00:47:27,760
behaving exactly as his psychologists are predicted when faced with

951
00:47:27,840 --> 00:47:30,159
overwhelming fores, they would try to call for help rather

952
00:47:30,159 --> 00:47:32,159
than take decisive action. It was another sign of their

953
00:47:32,159 --> 00:47:37,440
military weakness. Science Officer Rodriguez looked up from her instruments. Captain,

954
00:47:37,519 --> 00:47:40,599
I am detecting increased energy readings from several Zephyrine vessels.

955
00:47:41,199 --> 00:47:43,679
It appear as they are power in up additional weapon systems.

956
00:47:44,360 --> 00:47:48,559
Are they preparing to attack unknown? The energy increase is

957
00:47:48,599 --> 00:47:52,840
consistent with either offensive preparations or defensive posturing. Chun considered

958
00:47:52,880 --> 00:47:56,079
the situation. The Zephyrians were probably just trying to look

959
00:47:56,119 --> 00:47:57,960
threatening while they figured out what to do, but there

960
00:47:58,000 --> 00:47:59,719
was always a chance that one of their commanders might

961
00:47:59,800 --> 00:48:02,280
do something stupid. Send a message to the ZEPHYRN flagship,

962
00:48:02,360 --> 00:48:04,679
she ordered, remind them that any househole action will result

963
00:48:04,719 --> 00:48:07,519
in the immediate destruction of their entire fleet on the

964
00:48:07,559 --> 00:48:11,039
Sovereign's will. Communications officer rive and received the human transmission

965
00:48:11,039 --> 00:48:13,159
and played it for the bridge crew. The voice was

966
00:48:13,199 --> 00:48:17,119
calm and professional, but the words were terrifying Saprian vessels.

967
00:48:17,199 --> 00:48:20,119
This is Captain Turn of the Terran Colonial fleet. We

968
00:48:20,159 --> 00:48:23,800
have detected increased energy readings from your ships. Any vessel

969
00:48:23,800 --> 00:48:26,159
that continues to power up webon systems will be considered

970
00:48:26,159 --> 00:48:29,360
hostile and will be destroyed. You have been warned. The

971
00:48:29,440 --> 00:48:31,880
CCEL immediately ordered all ships to reduce their weapon power

972
00:48:31,880 --> 00:48:33,880
to minimum levels. She could not afford to give the

973
00:48:33,920 --> 00:48:36,440
humans any excuse to rob of fire. The timer continued

974
00:48:36,440 --> 00:48:41,159
canton down thirty five minutes and forty three seconds. Commander

975
00:48:41,440 --> 00:48:43,760
Tactical Analyst cret And called out from his station. They

976
00:48:43,800 --> 00:48:46,599
have been studying the human ship formations. I think I

977
00:48:46,719 --> 00:48:51,480
understand their strategy. Blaine Kretin activated a holographic display that

978
00:48:51,519 --> 00:48:53,960
showed the positions of all ships in the system. The

979
00:48:54,039 --> 00:48:57,440
humans are not just surrounding us randomly. They have positioned

980
00:48:57,440 --> 00:48:59,800
their vessels to create overlapping fields of fire that would

981
00:48:59,760 --> 00:49:02,719
prevent any of our ships from escaping or providing mutual support.

982
00:49:03,320 --> 00:49:06,920
He highlighted several human ships with red markers. These vessels

983
00:49:06,920 --> 00:49:10,079
appear to be specialized for different types of combat. Some

984
00:49:10,159 --> 00:49:13,280
are optimized for long range bombardment, others for close range fighting,

985
00:49:13,400 --> 00:49:16,639
and still others for anti fighter operations. What does that

986
00:49:16,679 --> 00:49:19,400
mean for us? It means they have planned this battle

987
00:49:19,440 --> 00:49:23,239
down to the smallest detail. Every one of our ships

988
00:49:23,239 --> 00:49:25,519
is covered by the optimal human vessel for destroying it.

989
00:49:26,360 --> 00:49:28,199
If we fight, we will not just lose. We will

990
00:49:28,199 --> 00:49:31,079
be slaughter the bridge Fell's island. Except for the humming

991
00:49:31,159 --> 00:49:34,920
of machinery and the beeping of countdown timers, everyone understood

992
00:49:34,920 --> 00:49:37,559
what Chrichten was saying. The humans had not just brought

993
00:49:37,559 --> 00:49:41,159
superior technology to this battle. They had brought superior strategy,

994
00:49:41,320 --> 00:49:44,639
superior tactics, and superior planning. Twenty minutes, eight minutes and

995
00:49:44,679 --> 00:49:48,760
seventeen seconds remained. Captain Can checked a chronometer and opened

996
00:49:48,760 --> 00:49:52,320
a communication channel to the entire Turan fleet, all ships.

997
00:49:52,360 --> 00:49:56,519
This is Admiral Chump prepared for combat operations. We will

998
00:49:56,519 --> 00:49:59,079
commence firing in exactly twenty eight minutes and less the

999
00:49:59,199 --> 00:50:02,400
enemy surrenders. She had promoted herself to admiral for the

1000
00:50:02,400 --> 00:50:05,760
purposes of this operation. The Zephyrins needed to understand that

1001
00:50:05,760 --> 00:50:08,320
they were not dealing with a single ship, Captain, but

1002
00:50:08,400 --> 00:50:10,920
with the full authority of the tearing colonial government. Throughout

1003
00:50:10,920 --> 00:50:14,599
the human fleet, weapons systems, harm to life, political cannons

1004
00:50:14,639 --> 00:50:18,519
that could punch through any no Narma began charging their capacitors,

1005
00:50:19,159 --> 00:50:22,719
kinetic accelerators, loaded projectiles that would strike targets at significant

1006
00:50:22,719 --> 00:50:26,280
fractions of light speed. Mesil tubes filled with warheads containing

1007
00:50:26,320 --> 00:50:30,159
exotic matter explosives. The TCS Retribution, disguised as a merchant

1008
00:50:30,239 --> 00:50:33,159
vessel until thirty minutes ago, was actually a heavy battleship

1009
00:50:33,199 --> 00:50:36,599
carrying humanity's most advanced weapons. Its main gown was a

1010
00:50:36,639 --> 00:50:39,800
roulatavistic killed vehicle launcher that could accelerate projectors to thirty

1011
00:50:39,840 --> 00:50:42,920
percent of light speed. A single shot from that weapon

1012
00:50:42,920 --> 00:50:46,719
could destroy a zaphrindreadnought. The TCS Vengeance had been pretending

1013
00:50:46,760 --> 00:50:50,119
to be a research ship, but it was really a

1014
00:50:50,159 --> 00:50:53,760
messile cruiser carrying over two hundred long range torpedoes. Each

1015
00:50:53,800 --> 00:50:56,320
torpedo had its own guidance system and enough explosive power

1016
00:50:56,360 --> 00:51:00,320
to level a city. Smaller human vessels carried swarms of fighters,

1017
00:51:00,519 --> 00:51:03,599
electronic warfare systems, and point of fence weapons that could

1018
00:51:03,639 --> 00:51:06,719
shoot down in coming projectors with perfect accuracy. The zephyrin Fleet,

1019
00:51:06,760 --> 00:51:10,480
impressive as it looked, was completely utmatched. Fifteen minutes and

1020
00:51:10,519 --> 00:51:14,360
thirty two seconds, Commander Captain Mordig's voice came through the

1021
00:51:14,360 --> 00:51:18,360
communication system again. We cannot win this battle. We need

1022
00:51:18,400 --> 00:51:23,280
to surrender. Surrender. Theaxtella was horrified by the suggestion we

1023
00:51:23,320 --> 00:51:27,199
are the Zephyrn Confederation Navy. We do not surrender to primitives.

1024
00:51:27,679 --> 00:51:30,800
These are not primitives. Captain Zellar pointed out, we were

1025
00:51:30,800 --> 00:51:33,960
wrong about everything. These humans are more advanced than any

1026
00:51:33,960 --> 00:51:37,159
species in the galaxy. If we surrender, what happens to

1027
00:51:37,199 --> 00:51:41,679
our crews, our ships, our colonies. I do not know.

1028
00:51:41,800 --> 00:51:43,960
Mortar co admit it, but if we fight, we all die.

1029
00:51:44,400 --> 00:51:46,519
At least if we surrender, some of us might surrive.

1030
00:51:47,199 --> 00:51:49,639
Axtello looked around her bridge at the officers and crew

1031
00:51:49,679 --> 00:51:52,159
who had served with her for years. These were good

1032
00:51:52,199 --> 00:51:55,000
beings who trusted her to make the right decisions. Did

1033
00:51:55,039 --> 00:51:56,440
she have the right to order them to die in

1034
00:51:56,440 --> 00:52:00,920
a hopeless battle. Ten minutes and ah eight seconds on

1035
00:52:00,960 --> 00:52:03,880
the Indomitable Chane received a priority message from Terror Command.

1036
00:52:04,559 --> 00:52:08,079
She read it quickly, then smiled with satisfaction. Lieutenant Commander

1037
00:52:08,119 --> 00:52:11,719
Park She called out, signal, all ships. Terror Command has

1038
00:52:11,760 --> 00:52:14,119
authorized us to proceed with phase two of the operation.

1039
00:52:14,760 --> 00:52:18,519
What is Phase two, Admiral? Complete pacification of this region

1040
00:52:18,559 --> 00:52:21,519
of space the caplum in this four hundred forty two

1041
00:52:21,559 --> 00:52:24,639
system is just the beginning. Once we secure the ZEPHYRN Fleet,

1042
00:52:24,679 --> 00:52:27,360
we will move on to their major wells and military bases.

1043
00:52:28,199 --> 00:52:31,679
Chan act evaded the fleet communication system. All ships, this

1044
00:52:31,800 --> 00:52:34,800
is Admiral Chan. You are now witnessing the opening action

1045
00:52:34,840 --> 00:52:38,000
of humanity's expunsion into this region of the galaxy. What

1046
00:52:38,119 --> 00:52:40,800
happens here today will determine whether that expansion is peaceful

1047
00:52:40,880 --> 00:52:43,920
or violent. She paused, then continued in a voice that

1048
00:52:43,960 --> 00:52:46,039
carried a cross s base to every ship in both fleets.

1049
00:52:46,800 --> 00:52:49,840
The age of alien dominance in this region is over.

1050
00:52:50,519 --> 00:52:53,519
The age of humanity has begun. Five minutes and forty

1051
00:52:53,519 --> 00:52:57,199
four seconds aboard the sovereigns will Vexedia made her decision.

1052
00:52:57,800 --> 00:52:59,679
She could not save her fleet, but perhaps she could

1053
00:52:59,679 --> 00:53:02,800
save her CRUs open a channel to the human flagship.

1054
00:53:02,880 --> 00:53:06,679
She ordered channel opened. Commander the Extella took a deep

1055
00:53:06,719 --> 00:53:09,480
breath and spoke the words that would end her career

1056
00:53:09,519 --> 00:53:12,679
and change the history of the galaxy. Captain Chan, this

1057
00:53:12,760 --> 00:53:16,400
is command of Extella of the zephyrin Confederation. We dot DTP.

1058
00:53:17,000 --> 00:53:19,960
We surrender our offully to human authority. The count down

1059
00:53:19,960 --> 00:53:22,599
time has stopped, with three minutes and seventeen seconds remaining.

1060
00:53:23,119 --> 00:53:27,199
Kushin's voice came back immediately, cold and professional, command of Extella.

1061
00:53:27,280 --> 00:53:31,280
I accept your surrender order. Old Zephyrine vessels to power

1062
00:53:31,360 --> 00:53:34,840
down weapons and shields immediately, but paed to receive boarding parties.

1063
00:53:35,559 --> 00:53:38,880
Boarding parties, Human Marines will be taking control of your

1064
00:53:38,880 --> 00:53:42,360
ships to and shook compliance with surrender terms. Any recessance

1065
00:53:42,360 --> 00:53:45,440
will result in the destruction of the resisting vessel. Thextella

1066
00:53:45,480 --> 00:53:48,719
looked around her bridge one last time. Her officers stared

1067
00:53:48,760 --> 00:53:51,599
back at her with expressions of defeat and despair. The

1068
00:53:51,679 --> 00:53:54,400
Zephrian Confederation had ruled this region of space for over

1069
00:53:54,440 --> 00:53:57,559
three hundred years. Today that rule had come to an end.

1070
00:53:58,119 --> 00:54:01,079
All ships, she announced over the fleet Communitycation System, powered

1071
00:54:01,119 --> 00:54:05,239
down weapons and shields, prepare to be boarded. Anyone who

1072
00:54:05,239 --> 00:54:07,960
resists will be responsible for the debts of their entire crew.

1073
00:54:08,559 --> 00:54:11,599
One by one, the Zephyrine ships went dark, their weapons

1074
00:54:11,679 --> 00:54:13,719
powered down, their shields collapsed, and their engines went into

1075
00:54:13,760 --> 00:54:15,719
stand by mode. That once proud fleet became a collection

1076
00:54:15,760 --> 00:54:17,800
of help US metal hawks flooding in space. Human boarding

1077
00:54:17,840 --> 00:54:20,199
shuttles launched from the Terran worships carrying Marine US to

1078
00:54:20,199 --> 00:54:22,639
secure each Jeffrian vessel. The Marines were equipped with advanced

1079
00:54:22,679 --> 00:54:25,840
DAMA and weapons that made them merely invincible against conventional assistance.

1080
00:54:25,880 --> 00:54:28,360
Captain Chann opened a final communication channel to the defeated

1081
00:54:28,440 --> 00:54:30,840
Zephyrine fleet command of Estella. The KEFFA four hundred forty

1082
00:54:30,880 --> 00:54:33,440
two systems now under the control of the Terran coloidal balvament.

1083
00:54:33,519 --> 00:54:35,360
Your ships will be as garred into a secure location

1084
00:54:35,400 --> 00:54:37,440
where your crews will be processed as prisoners of what.

1085
00:54:37,559 --> 00:54:39,480
She pulls, then added, iwan you to send a message

1086
00:54:39,519 --> 00:54:41,599
to your government and your allies. Tell them that humanity

1087
00:54:41,639 --> 00:54:44,320
has arrived in this regional space. Tell them that the

1088
00:54:44,360 --> 00:54:47,320
old order is finished, and tell them that any species

1089
00:54:47,320 --> 00:54:50,320
that opposes human expansion will face the same fate as

1090
00:54:50,360 --> 00:54:54,079
your fleet. The communication channel closed, leaving the Cephyrins alone

1091
00:54:54,079 --> 00:54:57,159
with their defeat. Later, as human marines secured the last

1092
00:54:57,239 --> 00:54:59,559
of the alien ships, see each unsent her final report

1093
00:54:59,559 --> 00:55:04,960
to TERRAKM. Mission accomplished, Sepharin fleet neutralized with seroor human casualties,

1094
00:55:05,599 --> 00:55:09,519
Local assistance eliminated. Kep Plumanus four hundred forty two asistant

1095
00:55:09,519 --> 00:55:12,599
secured for human colonization, Ready to proceed with conquest of

1096
00:55:12,639 --> 00:55:16,360
remaining zephrin territories. She looked out at the stars, thinking

1097
00:55:16,360 --> 00:55:18,480
about the dozens of human fleets that were already moving

1098
00:55:18,480 --> 00:55:21,559
toward other alien worlds. The hegemony of cath and the

1099
00:55:21,599 --> 00:55:24,480
Crystalline Collective would be next, followed by every other power

1100
00:55:24,480 --> 00:55:26,480
in this region of a galaxy. Today had been just

1101
00:55:26,519 --> 00:55:28,519
the beginning. Tomorrow the real war would start, and when

1102
00:55:28,519 --> 00:55:30,719
it was over, this entire region of space would belong

1103
00:55:30,800 --> 00:55:33,239
to humanity. The age of human expansion had begun, and

1104
00:55:33,320 --> 00:55:35,079
nothing in the galaxy would ever be the same.